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A plastic wine bottle - Source: ONE News -
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First it was screw tops and now New Zealand winemakers are trying the plastic bottle.
In a New Zealand first, a Marlborough self-made millionaire is committing one of his labels to a container he says has something consumers are after.
Marlborough wine producer Peter Yealand is taking a punt, adding a plastic bottled wine to his already successful brand.
"I think it's the way of the future, particularly for the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, you know, which is normally purchased and drunk within a short time," says Yealand.
Several thousand bottles are now on various supermarket shelves, with Yealands marketing it as more environmentally friendly and easier to recycle.
And it is made with proven technology that gives a shelf life of at least 18 months.
"The plastic is made of .... the same product that your Coke bottle's made of. It's extremely safe," says Yealand.
While you would not find it on the restaurant table, the plastic bottle is lightweight and shatterproof, specifically designed for occasions like a picnic.
ONE News took it to wine critic, Keith Stewart, to ask his opinion.
"No off smells at all. It's fine. Nobody would be unhappy with that," he says.
And Blenheim wine lovers appear to be keen.
Those who sampled it for ONE News say they would not have known from the taste that the wine was from a plastic bottle, and it has its place at the bach or beach.
Yealands are now hoping its punt, and its 2009 vintage, pays off.
